Grandad’s WWII Diary

Click here for entry for Tuesday 20th July – Sunday 25th June 1943 Monday July 26 Day 841 Made more enquiries concerning Canal, learnt guarded for six months. Due early in Aug. Played cards in afternoon. Word through that Musso* ??? had resigned. Continued letters in evening. Tuesday July 27 Day 842 Spent full day … Continue reading →

Click here for entry for Wednesday 14th July (cont.) – Monday 19th July 1943 Tuesday July 20 Day 835 Got parcels ready in case I see Meaty*. Swimming in afternoon returning early then acting as Pall-Bearer for Maori Boy. Small walk in cool of evening. Wednesday July 21 Day 836 In morning told could go … Continue reading →

Click here for entry for Saturday 10th July – Wednesday 14th July 1943 Wednesday July 14 Day 829 … from Sicily. Wrote in evening. Thursday July 15 Day 830 Received Marg’s tabacco parcel today, no swimming today but slept instead. Fit men on guard returned to Maadi – graded men from Helwan taking their place. In … Continue reading →

Click here for entry for Monday 5th July – Friday 9th July 1943 Saturday July 10 Day 825 News through today of invasion of Sicily. This where the huge convoys which passed through canal have gone. In evening walked to church arriving to read (news)paper but nothing in it about invasion. Sunday July 11 Day 826 … Continue reading →

Click here for entry for Grandad’s WWII Diary – Friday 30th June – Sunday 4th July 1943 Monday July 5 Day 820 Had leave to Ismailia – left Hospital at 7.30 by ration truck. Could not not see hand-bag suitable for Marg – plenty of wog mades but all very rough – decided to wait and … Continue reading →

About 45 minutes from Queenstown is the small township of Glenorchy, I’ll have another post coming up in the next few days about the town but in the meantime, I wanted to quickly share a little about the War Memorial and the impact of both world wars on this small town. Click on this link … Continue reading →

Click here for entry for Sunday 13th June (cont.) – Friday 18th June 1943 Saturday June 19 Day 804 Usual morning – then bathing during afternoon. Played Housie in evening. Sunday June 20 Day 805 Up rather early, too warm being in bed. Missed swimming as too many for the truck – transport short some being … Continue reading →

In my Grandfather’s diary entry from Saturday 5 June he wrote “Gala Day at Lido Club” – several races & Polo matches. Egyptian band in attendance – played quite well.” During this time he was acting as a guard at the 2nd New Zealand General Hospital at El Ballah near Cairo, Egypt. These photos were … Continue reading →

Click here for entry for Friday 28th May – Monday 31st May 1943 … both been sent through Cook & Son – believe are from Marg, other Erin & Rona. Tuesday June 1 Day 786 Definitely known that Div. around at Maadi – rumours that after first lot is returned the rest follow on – all … Continue reading →

Click here for entry for Monday 24th May – Thursday 27th May 1943 Friday May 28 Day 782 Last day on sister’s compound. Pay parade then swim – another large convoy passed through canal, escorts as well as cargo boats. Saturday May 29 Day 783 Free day. Did little washing in morning, swim in afternoon. … Continue reading →